DiscoverTenerife

Discover the sunny shores of Tenerife

Tenerife is as far-flung as Europe gets – and yet it’s easy to get to, safe, popular, and well-adapted for holidaymakers. An island of gold beaches and Goldilocks weather, it’s never too hot or too cold – just right, in fact for your next holiday. Situated in the Canaries, a volcanic cluster of Spanish territories right off the coast of north Africa, Tenerife is an island of two halves: the touristy south and the lesser-navigated north.

The south of the island became a sun-worshippers mecca in the seventies. With imported golden sand, strips of tourist-friendly shops, tapas bars, nightlife and water parks, this side of the island is well-versed in package holidays; so you won’t be disappointed if you choose to book a relaxing All Inclusive in Costa Adeje. Tellingly, the south also gets the best weather.

The northern half of the island remains quieter, with black sand and dramatic coastline. If package tours are not your bag, look north for a completely different kind of island life. From here you can set out on brilliant scenic drives to charming Canarian towns and visit vineyards that have piqued the interest of the world’s best sommeliers.

But hire a car and you’ll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds: deep ravine walks, remote hill villages, smooth biking routes through tall red bugloss flowers, and great golfing greens. Pause at a family-run Gaunchico for a simple, wine-fuelled lunch. When the sun goes down, look up from the horizon – another delight awaits. The island is one of the best places for stargazing in Europe. What are you waiting for? Book flights to Tenerife for a journey to the stars.

The best way to see Tenerife’s incredible scenery is by car – in the two hours it takes me to travel from north to south I'm greeted by incredible landscape changes. Thanks to my hired satnav – the perfect companion to any road trip – I'm making no wrong turns. First stop – the most famous seafood restaurant in Adeje, La Vieja Restaurante. Black rice paella and a small, cold cerveza por favor.

Golf anyone?

Abama Golf Course is one of the most prestigious courses on the island, stretching over 6,000 metres, with 22 lakes and 25,000 palm trees! Most holes have stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the island of La Gomera. This stretch of water also happens to be one of the top three whale and dolphin watching destinations in the world – so I keep my eyes peeled!

Mount Teide National Park

A drive to the national park is incredible! As I leave the sunny south coast behind me and drive up the winding mountain road I find myself climbing above the clouds, the landscape changing with every mile. The almost lunar surface is peppered with snow and the temperature has dropped a staggering 17 degrees. The cable car gets me close to the summit, where the views are simply breathtaking…

Wining and dining

Back down the mountain and I’m on my way to the Bodegas Monje to try my hand at making mojo sauce – an accompaniment to any meal in the Canaries These mojos can be red or green and are sometimes very spicy. To finish my tour I take a look around the extensive vineyards and even get exclusive access to the cellar, where up to 160,000 litres of wine can be produced from one crop.